Look, TVs are expensive. That new 4K smart TV probably cost you anywhere from $500 to $2,000. It’s worth taking a little extra time to pack it right. I’ve had customers call me in tears because they tried to save time and ended up with cracked screens or TVs that wouldn’t turn on at their new home.
The good news? Packing a TV isn’t rocket science. Our crew does it every day, and we’ve got it down to a simple process that works. I remember helping a family move from San Diego to Sacramento last summer – they were so worried about their three big TVs. When we unpacked at the new place, everything worked perfectly.
This guide will share what actually works based on hundreds of real moves we’ve done. No fancy technical stuff – just practical tips from our moving crew. We’ll cover everything from basic supplies to loading your TV in the truck. Follow these steps, and you’ll be watching your favorite shows in your new place with no problems!
Gather Necessary Materials
First things first – you need the right stuff to pack your TV safely. The best option? Use the original box if you still have it. About half our customers in LA keep their TV boxes in the garage or storage – smart move! Those original boxes have custom foam pieces that fit your TV perfectly.
Don’t have the original box? No worries. Here’s what you’ll need instead:
- A TV box or sturdy moving box that’s a bit bigger than your TV
- Bubble wrap (the small bubble kind works better)
- Moving blankets (you can rent these from us if you need them)
- Packing tape – get the good stuff, not the cheap tape that keeps breaking
- A soft cloth to clean your screen
- Plastic wrap (like the kind you use for leftovers, but the big roll)
- Foam corner protectors – super important!
- A marker to label your box
You can get most of this stuff at our shop or any moving supply store. Last week, one of our customers used a regular cardboard box for her TV, and it got crushed in the truck. Those special TV boxes cost about $20-30 but can save you hundreds or thousands in damage.
Pro tip from our team: if you’re moving multiple TVs, color-code your boxes and cables with different colored tape. Carlos on our crew always does this for customers with home theater setups, and it makes unpacking so much easier.
Preparing the TV for Packing
Before you touch your TV, grab your phone and take pictures of how all the cables are connected. Trust me on this one! We’ve had customers call us in a panic because they couldn’t remember which cable went where. Those pictures will save you a headache later.
Next, turn off your TV and unplug it. If you’ve been binge-watching shows all day, let it cool down for about 30 minutes. TVs get warm, and you don’t want to trap that heat inside the packaging.
Now, let’s remove all those cables. For each one you unplug, wrap it loosely with a twist tie or velcro strap. Don’t use rubber bands – they can damage the cables over time. My colleague Jen always tells customers to take a piece of masking tape and label each cable as you remove it: “HDMI to cable box,” “power cord,” “sound bar,” etc.
If your TV has a stand, take it off and pack it separately. For wall-mounted TVs, remove the brackets from the back if you can.
Give your screen a gentle wipe with a soft cloth. Don’t spray cleaner directly on the screen – that can damage it. Just use a dry or slightly damp cloth to get the dust off.
One thing many people forget: remove any discs from built-in players, and take out batteries from remotes before packing them. Last month, we unpacked a TV for a family in San Jose, and they had their kid’s favorite DVD still stuck in the player!
Packing Process
If you kept your original TV box, you’re in luck! Just put those foam pieces back in their correct spots and follow the diagrams printed on the box. Easy peasy.
For everyone else, here’s how we do it at California Loyal Movers:
Start with the screen. This is the most fragile part. Cover it with a layer of plastic wrap (like food wrap). This keeps dust and moisture away from the screen. Next, add a layer of bubble wrap with the FLAT side against the screen. Don’t put the bubbles directly on the screen – they can leave little circle marks on your display.
Secure the wrap with tape, but be careful not to stick tape directly on the TV itself. The adhesive can leave gunky residue that’s hard to remove.
Now for a step most people skip: put foam corner protectors on all four corners. We see more broken TVs from corner impacts than anything else. If you don’t have special corner protectors, you can make some by cutting foam padding into triangles.
Wrap the whole TV in a moving blanket, folding it neatly around all sides. Secure it with packing tape. Your TV should feel like it’s wearing a snug, protective coat with no loose parts.
Last step: wrap the blanket-covered TV with another layer of stretch wrap. This keeps everything in place and adds protection from rain or moisture. I learned this trick the hard way when I was moving a customer’s TV during a surprise downpour in San Francisco!
Packing Accessories
Don’t forget about all those TV accessories! Nothing’s worse than setting up your TV and realizing you’re missing the remote or an important cable.
Here’s a simple system we use for our customers: get a few ziplock bags and label them clearly. One bag for the remote (take the batteries out first!), one for power cables, one for HDMI cables, and so on. A customer in Oakland taught me this trick – he used different colored ziplock bags for each device in his entertainment system. Blue for TV stuff, green for gaming console, red for sound system.
For the remote control, take those batteries out before packing. We’ve seen remotes ruined by battery acid leaks during moves. Wrap the remote in bubble wrap and put it in its labeled bag along with the batteries (stored separately).
If you removed a TV stand or wall mount, put all those screws and small parts in a bag labeled “TV Hardware.” Count the screws before you pack them – there’s nothing more annoying than being one screw short when setting up your TV at the new place. We always write the number of screws right on the bag with a marker.
Got any special tools for your TV, like a unique screwdriver for the stand? Pack these with the hardware. A lot of newer Samsung and LG TVs come with special tools for their stands.
Keep your warranty information and instruction manual with your TV stuff too. Put them in a bag marked “TV Documents.” You’d be surprised how often people need these after moving!
Box Preparation and Labeling
Now it’s time to get your box ready. If you bought a special TV box, put it together following the instructions. To make it super strong, add extra packing tape in an H-pattern on the bottom. This prevents the box from breaking open if someone sets it down too hard.
Before you put your wrapped TV in the box, add some cushioning to the bottom. Bubble wrap, foam, or even bundled-up packing paper works great. This creates a soft base that absorbs shocks from below.
Gently place your wrapped TV in the center of the box. It should fit snugly but not too tight. If the box is squeezing your TV, it’s too small and could damage the screen. If there’s too much wiggle room, your TV will bounce around inside.
Fill ALL empty spaces with packing material. This is super important! Any empty space allows your TV to move during transit, which can cause damage. Our crew always pays special attention to the corners of the box – that’s where most crushing happens.
Seal the box with strong packing tape. Use at least three strips across each opening. For extra security, wrap tape all the way around the box in both directions.
Now for labeling: Use a thick marker to write “FRAGILE,” “THIS SIDE UP,” and “TELEVISION” on all sides of the box. Make the letters BIG so they’re easy to see. Also mark which side is the front of the TV. When we load the truck, we need to know which way the screen is facing.
Transportation Considerations
How you transport your TV is super important. At California Loyal Movers, we ALWAYS keep TVs upright, never flat. Why? Because laying a TV flat puts stress on the center of the screen. I’ve seen too many cracked screens from TVs that were transported flat in the back of SUVs.
Secure that TV box so it can’t slide around. Use straps or bungee cords to attach it to the wall of the moving truck. Never put heavy stuff on top of your TV box. I once had a customer who placed a box of books on top of their TV box – they ended up with a cracked screen.
Keep your TV away from things that might shift during the drive. The best spot is against the side wall of the truck, surrounded by soft items like bedding or clothes boxes. Think of your TV as being in a protective bubble – nothing hard should touch the box.
Temperature matters too. Extreme heat or cold is bad for TVs. If possible, don’t leave your TV in a hot moving truck all day in the summer, especially in places like Palm Springs where temperatures soar. Same goes for freezing conditions in mountain areas like Lake Tahoe.
Here’s a pro tip from our team: load your TV last and unload it first. This minimizes the time it spends in the truck and reduces the chance of other items shifting and damaging it. On our long-distance moves, we always check the TV at rest stops to make sure it hasn’t shifted.
Unpacking Process
You’ve made it to your new place – congrats! But don’t rush to set up your TV for a movie night just yet. We’ve seen too many TVs damaged in these final moments because people get impatient.
If your TV’s been in a cold or hot truck, let it sit in its box at room temperature for an hour or two. This is especially important if you moved on a really hot or cold day. TVs don’t like sudden temperature changes.
When you’re ready to unpack, carefully cut the tape on the box. Don’t cut too deep – you don’t want to accidentally slice into your TV! Open the box and check if everything looks good before you try to take the TV out.
Here’s the right way to remove your TV: get a friend to help if possible. Don’t pull it out by grabbing the top – this puts pressure on the screen. Instead, have one person on each side, support the TV from underneath, and lift straight up. Place it on a soft surface like a bed while you unwrap it.
Unwrap everything in the reverse order from how you packed it. Start with the outer layer of plastic wrap, then the blankets, and so on. Be gentle when removing tape.
Once your TV is totally unwrapped, don’t plug it in right away. Let it sit for about 30 minutes so any condensation that might have formed can dry up. Then you can set it up, plug in all the cables (using those pictures you took earlier!), and enjoy your shows in your new home.
Special Considerations
Some TVs need extra TLC when moving. If you have a really big TV (over 65 inches), always get help. These monsters are heavy and awkward to handle. Just last month, our crew moved a 75″ TV for a family in Orange County – it took three guys to safely pack and move it.
Curved TVs are tricky. The curved shape makes them more vulnerable to damage from pressure. Use extra cushioning along the curve and never pack them in a way that flattens out the natural curve. We’ve started using special foam inserts that match the curve of the screen for our high-end clients’ TVs.
Still have an old-school box TV (CRT)? These are HEAVY for their size and have fragile picture tubes. Always lift from the bottom, never by the “neck” at the back of the tube. Use double-walled boxes for these heavyweights.
Before your move, check your TV’s warranty info. Most warranties don’t cover moving damage – something many people don’t realize until it’s too late. If your TV is expensive, consider getting additional moving insurance. We offer specific electronics coverage for valuable items.
For super expensive TVs or complicated entertainment systems, think about hiring pros to pack them. Our team has special training and materials for high-value electronics. Last year, we moved a $15,000 home theater setup from Napa to Laguna Beach – the customer told us later it was worth every penny to have experts handle it.
Conclusion
Taking the time to pack your TV right is totally worth it. At California Loyal Movers, we’ve helped thousands of folks move their TVs across California – from tiny apartments in San Diego to huge houses in San Francisco. The methods in this guide are exactly what our team uses every day.
Start gathering your supplies early. The right materials make all the difference. I’ve seen people try to save a few bucks on supplies, only to end up with damaged TVs worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. Not worth the risk!
Take your time with each step, especially the wrapping part. Most TV damage happens because of rushed packing jobs. I remember one customer in Sacramento who tried to pack his 65″ TV in 10 minutes before we arrived – it didn’t end well.
If you’re feeling stressed about packing your expensive TV, or if you just don’t have the time, give us a call. Our professional packing service is affordable and gives you peace of mind knowing your valuable electronics are in good hands.
Keep this guide handy during your move. The small details – like proper labeling and correct positioning in the truck – often make the biggest difference in getting your TV to your new home safely.